Next, Shrek Academy sent their representatives to the arena, but a dramatic scene unfolded as Shrek Academy immediately conceded defeat.
The entire audience was stunned, all eyes turning to Yu Xiaogang, the leader of the Shrek Academy.
Yu Xiaogang stood on the sidelines, expressionless. This was all part of the plan: to conserve strength and focus all efforts on the Spirit Hall.
On the high platform, Bibi Dong's hand holding the scepter paused slightly. She was initially taken aback, and then a cold flame seemed to flash across her deep eyes.
She instantly understood the entire scheme behind this seemingly absurd move. It wasn't cowardice, but an undisguised tactical hunt targeting the Spirit Hall.
She looked down at the once-familiar figure, her fingernails almost digging into the scepter.
The game continues.
The second member sent by the Spirit Hall Academy made his appearance. He was a Power Attack System Soul Ancestor whose Martial Soul was " Ring Blade." He was agile and his blade gleamed coldly.
On the side of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Osler used the same tactics: hit-and-run tactics, dodging, and attrition, never engaging in a direct confrontation.
Osler maximized the speed advantage of his Agility Attack System, slowly wearing down his opponent's Soul Power and patience like a persistent leech. Once his own Soul Power was almost depleted, he decisively jumped out of the battle and admitted defeat.
Immediately afterwards, Shrek Academy sent Tai Long.
This power-type Power Attack System Soul Master, facing the " Ring Blade " Soul Ancestor who had already Osler nearly 80% of his Soul Power and whose mind was somewhat agitated, adopted the most aggressive fighting style.
With his thick skin and fierce determination, he withstood his opponent's sharp ring attacks and landed a punch on his opponent's ribs, causing serious injury and successfully eliminating him.
When facing Yu Feng, the next player from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Tai Long also chose to concede defeat directly.
The third round, the fourth round... the same script kept playing out.
Shrek and Heaven Dou Royal Academy are like two hunters working in perfect harmony.
One was responsible for harassment, attrition, and opening up new wounds; the other waited for the opportune moment to deliver a heavy blow or easily reap the rewards of the prey weakened by the former. And their target, from beginning to end, was only one: the Spirit Hall Academy.
By the time the Spirit Hall's higher-ups and members finally realized what was happening, the situation was already out of control, like a runaway horse.
They seemed to have fallen into an intricately woven, muddy trap. Every battle became exceptionally difficult, with victory requiring immense Soul Power and even the cost of injury. And just when they had barely managed to win and were still catching their breath, they were immediately faced with another opponent who was well-rested and in perfect condition.
A relentless, brutal, and unreasonable war of attrition!
"Shameless! Utterly shameless!" In the VIP section, a cardinal from the Spirit Hall finally couldn't hold back any longer, slamming his fist on the table and rising to his feet, his face flushed with anger.
However, his roar only earned him meaningful glances from the powerful figures of other forces around him.
As the rules allow, this is the most effective tactic under this brutal individual elimination system. Moreover, Shrek Academy and Heaven Dou Royal Academy both belong to the Heaven Dou Empire camp, and you can't even morally condemn their "tacit understanding."
At this moment, the best strategy for the Spirit Hall Academy might be to conserve its core combat power, concede defeat, and prepare for the loser's bracket match in the afternoon in a relatively intact state.
However, Pope's Hall, under the watchful eyes of everyone, the supreme authority and absolute power they had previously cultivated acted like invisible shackles, making it impossible for them to lower their "noble" heads. To voluntarily admit defeat? That would be a disgrace to the Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong sat high on the Pope throne, her magnificent skirts motionless. Only the scepter in her hand, a symbol of supreme power, trembled slightly, her knuckles white from gripping it.
She watched as her carefully nurtured disciples were helped off the field, one by one, their Soul Power exhausted and covered in wounds. Meanwhile, on the Shrek Academy side, although they kept admitting defeat, most of the players who left the field looked calm. The fluctuations in their Soul Power showed that they had consumed far less than their own side, and they could fight again after a short rest.
Humiliation. This is the humiliation brought about by a naked, tactical crushing defeat.
The following matches became agonizing. The Spirit Hall Academy was like sinking into quicksand, forced to watch helplessly as their fighting strength was gradually worn down.
When Xie Yue, the captain of the Spirit Hall Team and a member of the Golden Generation, was forced into a corner by Dugu Yan, who had been waiting for him to finish him off, his fate was sealed. This was because Hu Liena Zhu Zhuqing had exhausted seventy percent of his Soul Power and energy under the Gui Mei gaze of his younger sister, Hu Liena, and was ultimately defeated.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy has successfully advanced to the finals!
A huge roar erupted in the square, mostly cheers from the Heaven Dou Empire. In contrast, the Spirit Hall area was deathly silent, with everyone's face filled with resentment and anger. If their eyes could kill, they would have already pierced through the Shrek and the Heaven Dou forces.
The Spirit Hall Team paid a heavy price: all their main players were injured and their Soul Power was severely depleted. Before the loser's bracket match that might come in the afternoon, even with the best healing Soul Master, they could only recover 60-70% of their combat strength at most.
On the other hand Shrek Academy, the main opponent of the Spirit Hall Team, was almost completely unharmed, except for Tai Long who suffered some minor injuries that would take some time to recover. Their Soul Power had probably recovered to about 70-80% during their rest.
Bibi Dong slowly rose to her feet. Beneath her dazzling crown, her face was like a perfectly sculpted sculpture, revealing neither joy nor anger. But when her gaze swept across the crowd below, the sudden chill sent a shiver down the spines of many who were cheering.
She glanced deeply in the direction of the Shrek Academy, then at Yu Xiaogang, and finally at Tang San. Then, she turned and gracefully left the square.
This contest is far from over. The tactical setback this morning has ignited the Spirit Hall's fury. This afternoon will surely bring an even fiercer counterattack.
The afternoon sun was still scorching, but it couldn't dispel the gloom and frustration in the hearts of the Spirit Hall Team.
The loser's bracket finals have begun. As everyone expected, the Spirit Hall Academy players all looked exhausted, and their Soul Power fluctuations were far less than they had been at their peak that morning.
The Spirit Hall Team appeared unusually cautious, immediately tightening their formation and adopting a strategy of steady defense and counterattack. Clearly, the fierce battle of attrition that morning had left them wary, and they dared not act rashly again.
This conservative stance was exactly what Shrek wanted.
"Now! Change!" Tang San shouted.
The Shrek team members moved.
Their movements, seemingly ordinary, formed a mysterious formation in an instant.
Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Tai Long, Meng Yiran, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar all simultaneously unleashed intense Soul Power. This power did not spread outwards, but rather, as if drawn by a core, transformed into six torrents of different colors, surging towards Tang San at the forefront of the formation!
On the Spirit Hall's side, Xie Yue and Hu Liena's expressions changed drastically.
"Stop them!" Xie Yue roared. The brother and sister instantly connected, and a pink halo rose from their bodies, rapidly merging as they unleashed their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, " Demon Charm "!
But Shrek's attack was too fast and too decisive.
As Xie Yue and Hu Liena's figures began to blur and merge in the pink light, Tang San had already completed the gathering of power.
"Ugh!!"
Tang San roared to the sky, his robes billowing and rustling. His original four-ring Soul Power surged wildly, instantly breaking through the bottlenecks of Soul Ancestor and Soul King, reaching the peak of Soul Emperor, and even faintly touching an even higher threshold! A violent energy turbulence raged around him, and the air hummed under its strain.
Tang San made a grasping motion with his right hand, and a heavy, ancient, black hammer appeared out of thin air.
The Clear Sky Hammer has appeared!
Without the slightest hesitation, Tang San stepped on the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, his body spinning like a top.
" Chaotic Cloak!"
The first hammer blow was met with a mournful whistling sound.
The second blow was twice as powerful, and the airflow began to become turbulent.
The third hammer blow, the fourth hammer blow... the hammer shadows overlapped one after another, each blow borrowing the momentum of the previous one, the power increasing exponentially! The dark hammer shadows gradually merged into a black storm, sweeping towards the Spirit Hall formation with overwhelming force!
Just then, the pink halo suddenly expanded, instantly enveloping a large area of the field. Within the red light, Xie Yue and Hu Liena's figures had vanished, replaced by a bewitching figure with flowing long hair, a blurred face, and wielding two Moon Blade — Demon Charm!
A crimson mist spread, obscuring vision and devouring perception; within its domain, enemies diminish while our forces increase!
Anyone else would have been blinded by now, completely at their mercy.